nateniale's travels

{ Rome, Italy - May 2011 } The last day in Rome was spent with a whirlwind tour of the places that we had not been, but was in our list of the places to visit in Rome. We started the morning in Saint Peter's Basilica , followed by Campo de' Fiori . After having lunch at Campo de' Fiori, we made our way to a church that I was actually pretty reluctant to go.  Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappucini The reason for my reluctance? The crypt just under the church contains the bones of 4,000 Capuchin friars, arranged in elaborate fashion, decorating the various chapels. The crypt started in 1631 when thousands of bodies were exhumed and transferred to the crypt. Why would they want to do that - I am not sure. I expected it to be eerie and scary. However, it was actually okay. I did have any scary or eerie feelings. Various parts of the human skeletons decorated the ceiling and walls, and some full body skeletons were also displayed. No photography w...

{ Rome, Italy - May 2011 } If you have been to Rome, you must be scratching your head, thinking, there are no field of flowers in Rome. And you would be right. The packed, huge area that made up Rome is filled with historical sites, churches, piazzas with fountains and lots of buildings, but a big vast field with flowers? No, I have not seen one. And, no, I do not mean an actual field with flowers. Rather, "field of flowers" is the literal translation of the market Campo de' Fiori. The name was from the Middle Ages, when the area was actually a meadow. I love markets. In Venice, I love the time I spent walking around the Rialto Market . In Bologna, the main food street was unfortunately closed when we were there . In Rome, the famous market is Campo de' Fiori which, of course, I would not miss! After spending the morning in Saint Peter's Basilica , we made our way to the market right in the heart of bustling Rome. Unlike Rialto Market which was packed with f...

{ Rome, Italy - May 2011 } After being showered with treasures in the Vatican Museums and people-watch in Saint Peter's Square , we walked straight towards Castel Sant'Angelo. Castel and Ponte Sant'Angelo Castel Sant'Angelo may sound and look familiar as it has recently appeared in the movie Angels & Demons  which was based on the book by Dan Brown. Of course, it is also where Passetto di Borgo, the elevated passageway, connects Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican City. So, if you have watched the movie, or read the book, it would be a familiar sight. The cylindrical shape made it all the more recognisable. It was originally built by Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum, then converted into a fortress and is now a museum. The inside of the building was not that impressive, especially after the visit to the Vatican Museums. However, the terrace on the top floor provided a great views over Rome and also a good place to take a break after a long day. ...

{ Vatican City - May 2011 } The dome of Saint Peter's Basilica can pretty much be seen from all around the Vatican City, and the surrounding area in Rome. There is just something about the dome, that was partly designed by Michaelangelo, that captures the eye. It could be the elegance in the simplicity, or the majestic grandeur - either way, it is something that you would not be able to miss on your visit to the Vatican City. { Click here for other travel tales from Italy and  a list of my travelogues }

{ Vatican City - May 2011 } Vatican City may be the smallest country in the world, but each year, millions of tourists and pilgrims visited the Vatican Museums and Saint Peter's Basilica, and many more spent time around the huge Saint Peter's Square. All this made it a great place to people watch, and of course to take snapshots of tourists. And, no mention of the people of Vatican City would be complete, without the Swiss Guard, in their bright uniform of blue, red, orange and yellow. Saint Peter's Square       Saint Peter's Basilica    Swiss Guard { Click here for other travel tales from Italy and  a list of my travelogues }

{ Vatican City - May 2011 } State of the City of Vatican. I am fascinated with small little countries, such as Lietchstenstein, San Marino and Maldives. I am even more fascinated with small little countries that pack a punch, like Monaco. Of course, no other country is smaller than the Vatican City, and packs a bigger punch! I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of treasures and influence that Vatican City has! A sovereign city-state with only 800 residents, the country is headed by the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, who is also the head of more than a billion Catholics around the world. For such a tiny little country, it has its own radio, television, telephone system, pharmacy and postal service. The postal service is recognised as one of the best in the world, but the postcard I sent from Vatican City was somehow lost in transit (or was it the Singapore's postal that lost it?), so I can't really say much about that! Vatican Museums Vatican Museums ( Mus...